Javi Martin
In the early 90s, Alfa Romeo It was not going through its best moment, since it had a certain reputation for lack of quality. The sporty spirit and the almost unparalleled design of his models remained intact, but that was a time to forget in other respects. It is said that the Alfa Romeo 75 It was the last “real” Alfa, not for nothing, it still kept the propulsion and didn't have to work on its projects taking into account things like group synergies, which it finally had to adopt with the 155.
Our protagonist was the first model with the brand under the control of Fiat. In 75, for his part, he left with Alfa still in the hands of the Institute for Industrial Construction (IRI), a public body created by the Mussolini government, similar to the INI –National Institute of Industry– that the Franco government imposed in Spain. The Alfa Romeo 75 was developed and launched under tight spending constraints.
With the Alfa Romeo 155, the Fiat Group wanted to give the brand back an image that it had lost with the latest launches, but such a large industrial group is governed by very strict rules and the 155 had to share many things with other Fiat models and also Lancia. That forced me to be a model of front-wheel drive, instead of maintaining the propulsion of the model it replaced.
The reason was that the Alfa 155 used the Fiat Tipo platform, the first modular platform on the market – it was not Volkswagen, but Fiat who launched the concept – which was used for countless models such as the Launch Dedra or fiat tempra. Over time, it evolved and changed, giving support to cars like the Fiat Coupé or the Alfa 145, but this is another matter entirely.
The first appearance of the Alfa Romeo 155 was in Spain, in the Barcelona Motor Show of 1992 held in January and, subsequently, it was shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The design, purely Alfa, was the work of Renzo Piano's IDEA Institute. The model is manufactured at the Pomigliano d'Arco plant and not at the Arese plant, as was customary.
A FUTURE CLASSIC? POSSANZINI AUTOMOBILI THINKS SO
El Alfa Romeo 155 was manufactured between 1992 and 1998, it is a model that is already 30 years old and, therefore, legally, it can be considered classic. The question is, as we have seen on occasion, that future –and current– classic cars will not be as we are used to and also, by having a higher quality, they also last longer on the road.
Without going any further, yet it is possible to see units of the 155 circulating by road and that subtracts some weight when considering it a classic. However, as a car it deserves to be remembered and not only because it is an Alfa Romeo, but because it was a car that won countless competition tests. Also because it had really interesting versions such as the Turbo Q4, which adopted the engine-transmission group of the Lancia Delta HF Integrals –193 CV and all-wheel drive– or the 6-liter V2,5 and 166 CV. Versions, by the way, that reach quite high prices in the market -a Alpha 155 Q4 In conditions, it does not fall below 20.000 euros, for example.
The Alpha 155 2.5 V6 They are somewhat cheaper, at least in Europe, something that may not be replicated in Argentina, where Possanzini Automobili has created what, for now, is the first r on a 155. At least, the first one that we know of. A job that, according to what the Argentine specialist himself tells us, has required nothing less than 1.000 working hours. And the Alfa 155 has been chosen because, as its creators say in a video, "He did not leave a puppet with a head, he was a champion of champions". The Alpha 155 won it all in competition and this restomod seeks to power those characteristics that made it unbeatable.
Possanzini Automobili calls it Alfa Romeo 155 GTAM, because it is a Gran Turismo, because it is lightened, and because it is modified. In any case, you won't find major changes, as we have sought to maintain the essence of the car, improving what needed to be improved, but leaving what should have been original as original. A job that costs 230.000 Argentine dollars -1.129 euros to change-.
ALFA ROMEO 155 GTAM: MORE RELIABLE AND WITH A SPORTIER TOUCH
The r are a trendAlthough in general, those specialists that are scattered around the world focus on very high-end vehicles and very high prices. There are many specialists in Porsche, in the United States there is a true enormity of workshops dedicated to the r about national vehicles and in the United Kingdom we can find one of the few specialists in Alfa Romeo: alfaholics. However, while Alfaholics' creations are works of art, its cost is ridiculous and it makes this work of Possanzini Automobili have a special appeal.
The alma mater of the project is Marcelo Possanzini, owner of Possanzini Automobili. It is a company created in Córdoba, Argentina, with an experience of more than 30 years dedicated to the restoration of classics, but also to the empowerment and modification of sports classics. Since 2011, are dedicated exclusively to r, to which they add, as they say, a bit of dynamic “pepper”. It is just what they have done with the Alfa Romeo 155 2.5 V6 that has been in their workshops for more than 1.000 hours, as previously stated.
Marcelo is passionate about cars and it shows in this 155, basically, because they have not changed the personality of the car and that is something that only true car lovers look for. It can be improved, it can be modified, but the essence of the car must be maintainedEspecially if it's a classic. Thus, the first change that was carried out, in addition to checking and repairing everything that was not in good condition -wiring, electronics, sheet metal...-, was to assemble a new suspension It lowers the center of gravity by 30 millimeters. Then the brakes were changed for more sporty and modern ones, with ventilated and perforated discs.
The engine, the famous V6 I knock in its 2,5-litre version, it has also been revised and enhanced in the Possanzini Automobili workshops. They have sought to increase reliability – reliability, as they say in South America – and improve the sporty feel. The electronic management was modified, to increase the maximum speed up to 7.200 revolutions and the exhaust line was changed for a Magnaflow team made of stainless steel. Possanzini assures that now he pays more than 200 hp -166 CV of origin-.
RETAIL
Enhanced the aura of competition, switches have been installed in the passenger compartment that act on the ABS, since its assistance is not necessary on the circuit, and on the electrical system. One of the keys serves as a power cut, for electrical safety in the event of an accident, the other, to keep the battery in perfect condition when the car is left unused for a long time. In addition, an airplane type key and a push button are used for starting.
Likewise, there have been some bodywork changes, which seek to improve cooling, while removing the rear bench and installing a semi-cage and Sabelt five-point harnesses.
